Gun owners flooded the ATF with 150,000 suppressor applications on January 1—the first day the federal $200 tax stamp dropped to zero. That's a 6,000 percent increase from the typical daily volume of 2,500 applications.

The surge was so massive it crashed the ATF's eForms system throughout New Year's Day, leaving dealers and buyers dealing with intermittent glitches and delays nationwide.

Why it matters: This isn't just about saving $200. The tax elimination removes the biggest barrier that's kept suppressors out of reach for most gun owners since 1934.

• 4.4 million suppressors already in circulation—up from just 300,000 in 2011
• About 35 percent of recent buyers were first-timers
• With the cost barrier gone, expect those numbers to explode

The tax elimination came through Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" signed last July 4th. It was a budget reconciliation measure, which means it could only touch tax and fiscal issues—not the underlying NFA registration requirements.

"January 1st, 2026 will go down as the day suppressors went mainstream."
— NSSF Industry Statement

Suppressor companies saw this coming and many covered the $200 tax through rebates in late 2025, giving buyers a preview of the zero-tax world. Even with those programs reducing demand, New Year's Day still brought unprecedented volume.

What hasn't changed is everything else about the NFA process. You still need to file Form 4, submit fingerprints and photos, pass a background check, and wait for ATF approval.

By the numbers: The growth trajectory is staggering.

• 150,000 applications on Day 1 alone
• 6,000% increase from typical daily volume
• 4.4 million suppressors in circulation by early 2025
• 265% market growth from 2020 to 2024

The bottom line: The ATF better get used to it—2026 is shaping up to be the year of the suppressor.

Go deeper:

• NSSF: 2026 Could Be The Year Of Suppressors
• American Rifleman: 150,000 NFA Applications Filed On Day 1

Read the original article in The Handbook | By Steve Duskett

Join the Discussion

With suppressor applications skyrocketing now that the tax is gone, are you actually planning to grab one, or does the whole Form 4 wait time still feel like a pain?